Photo

When Tom Coleman set up an infrared camera to take still shots of the night life in his back yard, he expected to see raccoons and deer with an occasional skunk and opossum.

Viewing his photos recently, he was startled to spot a mountain lion strolling right next to his home, which is in a wooded area near Arroyo de la Laguna at the base of the Ridge.

Coleman said he often sees the neighbor's cat, Frankie, in the photos so it was surprising to see the little cat go by and, in the next frame, the big cat.

"Someone from Fish and Wildlife confirmed it was a mountain lion," Coleman said Tuesday. "The local game warden estimated this lion to be at least 40 pounds. He described it as medium size."

The warden told Coleman mountain lions primarily eat deer and turkeys.

"He said they usually go after one deer a week and consume that. They don't see humans primarily as a food source -- but he did say they are very opportunistic," Coleman said.

The mountain lion left a big paw print as he jumped over a retaining wall on Coleman's property. Coleman took a photo of that, too.

— Dolores Fox Ciardelli

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.